MJF Images Fine Art landscape, nature and travel images from the American West and around the world.

Archive for the ‘Hayden Valley’ Tag

Chaco Canyon from Penasco Blanco, an out-of-the-way ruin requiring a hike to get to. Being here at sunset means risking a ticket (see text below)

Last week I listed a few likes and dislikes of visiting and photographing in national parks. All subjective of course. When I say I dislike something, it means I dislike only the one thing. Please don’t try to read anything more into it. For example, in general I dislike crowds. Not at ballgames, rock concerts, etc.; they’re a part of the experience at such places. I certainly don’t begrudge the many people who love our parks and visit them. I recognize that if crowds at parks are a problem then I’m a part of that problem. It’s just that I can’t enjoy any natural area if it’s too crowded.

The Yellowstone River meanders through Hayden Valley. While the road through here is very busy, you can hike cross-country for different views and few people.

Pet Peeve #1: Littering

And speaking of crowds in parks, it can lead to other problems. One of them, a big pet peeve of mine, is littering. Strangely, the Park Service seems to do little to combat this problem. For example the publication you get upon entering any park spends a lot of time warning of the dangers of bears, falling rocks or whatever hazards exist naturally (and obviously) in parks. Especially bears, they seem completely fixated on bears. But they say nothing about littering. The park newsletter is the obvious place to mention the fact that littering is illegal and subject to a fine.

I believe the Park Service thinks the problem was beaten years ago. Through the 1970s Americans began to litter a lot less. We became much more environmentally aware in that era. And increasing fines for littering didn’t hurt either. But those days are gone now. The younger generations tend to be less environmentally conscious than their parents. In other words parents have dropped the ball in this way like so many others.

In addition (warning: this is going to sound politically incorrect), the immigrant population has been increasing. While that isn’t a bad thing of course, many of them come from places where littering is socially acceptable (though that is now changing in certain parts of the world). These people simply need to be educated, and for those of us who already know, we need to be reminded. If anyone doesn’t get the message, break out the fines. Money talks, in any language. But the NPS isn’t doing any of this. As a result we all get to see plastic water bottles and toilet paper strewn about in our national parks.

If Death Valley gets busy you can always head over to adjacent Panamint Valley. Also within the park, it’s a great place to look for feral burros.

Sometimes it pays to be short: A small passageway in Lehman Caves, Great Basin National Park, Nevada.

Pet Peeve #2: The Ugly Photographer

Notice I haven’t mentioned the sorts of behaviours that get spread all over social media these days: the idiots (let’s be honest) who approach dangerous animals or enter environmentally sensitive areas to get selfies. While these kinds of things are certainly damaging (not least to our collective self-respect!), I think they are still pretty rare. So I don’t join in the public shaming on social media. But the desire to document everything shows no signs of slowing, resulting in problems more subtle and insidious than charging buffalo.

WILDLIFE & THE GOLDEN RULE

I’d like to throw light on something I’ve observed with increasing frequency in parks. While not as outright stupid as the tourist who wants a picture of his child next to a wild animal, it’s nevertheless very thoughtless and selfish. First of all, despite our frequent cluelessness, the great majority of animals do not react to us aggressively at all. The bad behaviour of photographers, whether they’re slinging a huge lens or holding up a cell phone, is almost always ignored. But think about it. We can still make life very difficult for the beings who call our parks home.

Every single day in the parks, wild animals are forced to endure a never-ending procession of tourists who think it’s okay to completely disrupt their lives to get photos. For example, when bison or elk try to cross the road at Yellowstone, usually to access water or food, tourists routinely block the way in order to get photos. I’ve seen the same thing done to black bears at the Great Smokies. I’ve tried to get people to see what they’re doing, but have only gotten angry retorts. Nobody likes to be called out no matter how diplomatic you try to be.

I spent quite awhile near this young bull elk, letting him get comfortable with me. He was laying down, resting in the forest just a few yards from the road but invisible to all the passing people.

I know the good people who read this blog wouldn’t dream of doing this, but it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. Put yourself in the animals’ places and consider how you’d respond to a stranger barging into your home, blocking your way to the frig while you’re trying to get something to eat or drink. And just to get a stupid picture. I don’t mean to rant or lecture too much. Most people are conscientious. They just need to hit the pause button once in awhile and think about what they’re doing.

Next week we’ll conclude this little series on the two sides of national parks. Take it easy out there and shoot mellow.

Grand Canyon is the 2nd most visited park in the country, but if you’re willing to drive a long gravel road, the north rim’s Toroweap area is much quieter.

A photo & travel blog with a difference: Instead of strict focus on photo how-to, gear and the like, I'll pass on knowledge about the places and cultures photographed. I believe the more deeply you come to know a place, the better your pictures will be.

My past careers as science teacher and geologist mean that I can't help but teach about the natural history of photogenic places around the world. But photography is not forgotten. You'll also see practical tips about where and how to photograph the destinations. And once a week, Friday Foto Talk gives photography tips and how-to on a selected topic, for novices on up to expert.

What you won't find here is endless discussion about me braving dangerous weather, terrain or wild animals to get the shot. Nor will there be cheerleading gear talk or marketing pitches. I promise to leave that to other blogs, of which there are many.

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